big time

an article on the front page 

of the local, hometown newpaper

may not be a really big deal

but it is

for me

because

hopefully

the people of

Megaladi

will reap the benefits.

see the article

in the Daily Standard

here

go on.

run. do not walk.

go ahead.

hurry.

pass go and collect $200.

check it out

and let me know what you think.

if you'd like to know more
or if you'd like to become part of
the extended village
for Megaladi
click this link
or visit the
ghni website.

please
read my earlier posts
to see more pictures
and learn more about
my incredible experience.

still here

I'm still here.

sort of.

since the week after

my knee surgery

(for those of you who don't know,

I had ACL reconstruction surgery

the week after I returned from

Ethiopia)

i have been trying to put

together a really

meaningful

heart-felt

update.

my thoughts are not

cohesive

even to me

(many thanks to the

pain meds)

but I still have so many

wonderful stories

to share about my

journey.

but

for now just a few pictures

until i can shake the

cobwebs from my brain.

i know

with certainty that the

 tiny, rural villages

the people

and the relationships i developed
on this short

excursion

now have an

enormous 

distinct niche

 in my heart

and

in my life.

and i miss them all like crazy.

more to come, soon!

still in the process of processing...

i don't want to forget anything
that i learned or experienced
on this amazing journey. 

i feel a strange anxiety,
a sense of urgency

so as not to dismiss even one tiny detail.

not a single sensation.
not a solitary emotion
or scenario.

and certainly not this shining face.

i think back at me pointing to myself and saying my name, then motioning to her as a signal for her to tell me her name, but she would merely repeat my name.  i'm no genius, but i'm pretty sure her name isn't 'hez-uh'.  after several failed attempts at this game of gestures (and lots of giggles), we were rescued by someone who understood my objective.  a few inquiries and translations later, he revealed to me that her name is Keltun (kel-toon).  Keltun is 7 or 8 years old...i can't recall exactly, but i remember thinking she is Zander's age.  she is full of energy and laughter, despite being hungry and thirsty.  she is cordial and affectionate, in spite of difficult circumstances.

within minutes of seeing one another for the first time, she reached for my hand as we began walking down the dirt road to get a look at the well and generator for her village. another child wanted to hold my hand too, but Keltun was reluctant to share even one of my fingers, so i put my camera down and offered my left hand to the other little girl. we strolled along not speaking a word. i would glance at Keltun every few steps and she would cast me that beaming grin...smiling even with her eyes.

eyes that are full of promise and unlimited potential. Keltun's health, education, and opportunities depend on her village, Megaladi, navigating the path of TCD (transformational community development) with the guidance of the local GHNI representatives.

this program works...i've seen it. 

     there is hope...Megaladi sees it.      

Musa, Keltun's father, is a TCD committee member in Megaladi. in our meeting with the committees, Musa (moo-say) was insistent and eager, yet softly spoken and incredibly wise (even through triple translation!). he made a reference to the village of Megaladi being a small, stagnant pond and GHNI being a teeming river. as the river rushes into the pond, he described, the two bodies of water become one. the momentum of the river encompasses the pond and together they flow along the course of the river.  so eloquent.  so accurate.  he "gets it".  the people of Megaladi understand that they need some momentum.  their village can become self-sustaining and prolific with this surge of knowledge and encouragement offered by GHNI. 

this man is Musa

thank you for continuing to follow my journey...

you, too, can be part of the extended village network for Megaladi.

or you can go to the Megaladi blog page to learn more and check out their progress.

i'll be back soon...
ciao!

new normal...

worlds away.  i feel like i am worlds away.  distanced not from Ethiopia, but from all the things i've returned to.  i am wrestling with many emotions and trying to make sense of how all the pieces will fit together...certainly this puzzle will make a remarkable picture.

i am trying to re-acclimate.  it may take some time.  please bear with me.  i am tired when i shouldn't be.  and awake when i shouldn't be...hello 3am! 

i am pining for tastes that can't be found in ohio (we grew very fond of the papaya, mango, avacado mixed juice..."spreese" juice, anyone?).

i have so much more to share about my experience, but i need to organize my thoughts first.  i need to process some raw and powerful emotions tugging at my heart.  

i need to embrace this new normal.

life goes on...but my course has been altered.  my perspective of the world has changed. 

the relationships and experiences are now part of me. 

i am

 thankful

beyond measure.

so please 

excuse me

briefly 

as i focus on what

matters most.



inspired

along the dirt road beyond Megaladi, is Garmaam which became a sponsored village just a year ago. we drove into the center of the village where the road is lined with some trees providing shade and a few small shops.  just off the road is the health post (clinic).  i am absolutely amazed by the information and services provided by Yusuf...he is the chairman of the wellness committee.  the clinic, partially subsidized by the government, offers vaccinations, information on communicable disease prevention, personal hygiene awareness, prenatal and obstetric care, infant wellness, malaria prevention, nutrition information, and family planning information.  charts, graphs, and informational posters cover the walls of the clinic.  that is progress.  

Yusuf, third from left, operates the health post 

Garmaam is developing agricultural fields and has planted mango trees. 

they are plowing and tilling the land.

the village has access to an irrigation ditch system

for personal use and for watering crops.

look closely...crop rows

most of the school-aged children attend classes.

the villagers understand that educating their children

is the key to making the village successful into the future.

Garmaam has a long journey ahead of them on the

TCD path to a healthy community, but they have

made astounding progress and they are

the perfect role models for

Megaladi.

a home in Megaladi

taking wood to town to sell

dry river bed

given knowledge, leadership, and a helping hand
the people of Megaladi can thrive, too.

you can be a part of their success.

click and check out the Megaladi blog.

learn about their projects.

celebrate their accomplishments.

share their passion.

be inspired as they smile in the face of adversity.

be amazed by their wisdom and vision.

it starts with water

it's all about water for Megaladi.  a well was dug for them by an NGO (non-governmental organization) and they were given a diesel-powered generator to operate the well pump.  the diesel fuel for the generator is very expensive and the parts to repair and maintain it are nearly impossible to obtain.  and the real issue...the water is not suitable for consumption or irrigation.  high in salt content, the water is causing kidney problems among the villagers.  but they continue to drink it because there is no other water source. 

in our discussions with Megaladi committee members it became clear that the priority is

water.  without clean water they cannot have agriculture and income.  to be healthy they need clean water for drinking and hygiene.  some children do not attend school because of dehydration and hunger.  the first hurdle in their path of transformational community development (TCD) is water.

but they have vision and hope.  they know that they must become self-sufficient to survive.  they now realize that the hand-outs only create dependence.  they know that knowledge and guidance is the answer to helping their community. 

the local GHNI representatives, Jonathan, Zerihun, Alex, and Lemmy, are committed to leading and teaching them.  

the villagers are willing to listen, learn, and work hard.  they are committed to making their village a healthy and viable community for the next generation.

our team of four American mothers has committed to helping them as they walk hand-in-hand on this journey of transformation.  laura, courtney, jennifer and i are full of hope for the partnership of Megaladi and GHNI. 

you can support the village of Megaladi too, if you'd like.  you can be part of this amazing process.  the price is small...only $12 per month.  the reward is monumental...an entire village becoming healthy, independent, and self-sufficient.